I prefer wiggling my way out of crowds as soon as I can. For me
it's strange: I can 'feel' people's emotions. i can rationally
describe some of it if I have to.. but I can enter a room and
feel anger in the air, happiness in the air... stuff like that.
I mostly watch my emotions as they happen (years of anti-anxiety
practice I guess) - but with other people,it just "hits me".
Sucks me dry. == Me neither. I allow some people in but very
few. Kids can usually come into the circle until they start
playing the social awkwardness game like the adult world, then
it's just more of the same. I like to keep ... hm - probably
about the same radius as you if I can. Actually the boundaries
of whatever room I'm in. I can tolerate closer to just past arms
length, although I don't care for it, and anything close than
arms like I just have this, "go go, move away" feeling inside
that sometimes gets me to make an excuse and leave the room. ==
When i had office work (I work from home now) - I'd walk at
lunch time. Certain people I'd socialize lightly with: the
people that got me coffee at Duncan Donuts were ok. I don't mind
the scripted exchange at supermarkets and stuff. I know the
various scripts and my part, so i -can- put an actor's face on
for short periods of time. If I have to engage at length, I can
do it if all I have to do is listen and go, "uh huh. yeah.
right. OH How Interesting! - Yeah that must've been tough. Wow!
Good for you!" at key moments. But I like to plan my routes when
I can and be as efficient as possible generally. The people
around me here are mostly chaotic and unpredictable. Sometimes I
have to respond to their needs/wants and quickly, usually a
dipomatic or psychoanalyst role. I can do those ok for short
periods of time. But generally, Im behind my computer like now.
==
